Regulator mechanism for vehicle windows



J. B. PARSONS REGULATOR MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE WINDOWS Filed NOV. 20, 1952 Jan. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l 15 kw A 2// 1/ L INVENTOR.

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BY ATTY Jan. 18, 1955 J. B. PARSONS 2,699,650

REGULATOR MECHANISM FOR'VEHIQLE w'mnows.

Filed Nov. 20, 1952 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. do/m 5. Parsons ATTORNEY United States Patent fiFice 2,699,650 Patented Jan. 18, 1955 REGULATOR MECHANISM FOR VEHICLE WINDOWS John B. Parsons, Maumee, Ohio Application November 20, 1952, Serial No. 321,674 1 Claim. (CI. 60-52) This invention relates to regulators, but particularly to regulators for actuating vehicle parts, such as windows, seats and the like, and an object is to produce a regulator of this character which is fluid operated and which includes a device for compensating for fluid pressures in excess of a predetermined maximum. This application constitutes a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 678,604, filed June 22, 1946 (now abandoned) and entitled Pressure Fuid Servo-Motor. Application Ser. No. 678,604 is a division of my application Ser. No. 594,577, filed May 18, 1945, now Patent No. 2,468,943.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the front end portion of an automobile showing the ventilating wing, parts being broken away to show the regulator mechanism and the pump and connections being diagrammatically illustrated;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the regulator mechanism indicating by broken lines the positions to which the ventilating vane or wing may be adjusted;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation of the regulator and its associated electromagnetically controlled valve;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the piston body portion;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the piston assembly and associated spring, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in vertical section,of the motor and pump and reservoir assembly; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse sectional view of the pump housing showing the spring-tensioned valve in partially retracted position to allow liquid under pressure to pass therefrom.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises an automobile body 10 having a side door 11 provided with a window opening 12 in which the usual vertically movable window panel is mounted. Forwardly of the opening 12 and separated therefrom by a vertically disposed guide bar 13 is a ventilating wing or vane 14, which is pivoted to swing about an up and down axis, the upper pivot being indicated by the number 15 and the lower pivot being indicated by the number 16. Fixed to the vane 14 and depending from the pivot 16 is a flat-sided post 17 which extends between the sides of a yoke 18, a pin or bolt 19 extending through registered apertures in the post 17 and yoke 18 for holding the parts together. It will be manifest that by rotation of the yoke 18, the ventilating wing 14 may be swung about its axis, as indicated by the broken lines on Figure 2.

The yoke 18 forms a part of the regulator mechanism and as shown on Figure 3, is an integral part of the slotted stub shaft 20 into which the straight portion of a heilcal ribbon shaft 21 is securely positioned by a bolt 22. The gradual curve 23 of the helix is formed by twisting a flat, elongate steel ribbon to the desired contour, the ribbon being shown rectangular in cross section.

Fitting the helical ribbon shaft 21 is a piston 24, which is formed with a slotted central opening 25 conforming to the cross section of and having a sliding fit with the shaft 21 so that the piston can move longitudinally of the shaft 21. The piston 24 comprises a substantially rectangular plate or body portion 24a fromthe under side of which depend four integral shouldered pins 27. A rectangular resilient rubber packing disc 26 is apertured to fit over the pins 27 and retaining the rubber disc 26 in place is a rectangular metallic plate 28 which is also apertured to fit over the pins 27, the latter being upset or riveted over as indicated on Figure 6, to hold the rubber disc 26 and the plate 28 in position. It will be observed that the slot 25 in the plate 24a is of hour glass shape in cross section and as shown in Figure 6, registering slots are formed in the disc 26 and plate 28. It should be noted that the rubber disc 26 is so constructed and arranged that it not only effects a liquid-tight seal outwardly with the inner walls of the cylinder, but also affords an effective lzii uid-tight seal inwardly with the helical shaft or ribbon 27b the same being formed by reducing the thickness of the metal of the finger projecting outwardly therefrom. It will be manifest that the piston 24 may be conveniently formed by die casting.

The piston 24 is longitudinally slidable in an elongate sheet metal housing 29 which is rectangular in cross section with the corners thereof rounded as indicated on Figure 4, and conforms to the curvature of the outer surfaces of the fingers 27a. The fingers 27a; militate against the piston binding within the housing, insure a smooth sliding movement and also provide a mounting and enclosure for one end portion of a coil spring 30.

Manifestly the piston 24 is held against rotative movement, but sliding movement thereof longitudinally of the elongate housing 29 is permitted. As a consequence, the longitudinal sliding movement of the piston 24 imparts rotative movement to the helical shaft 21 due to the cooperative engagement of these parts.

As will hereinafter more fully appear, fluid under pressure, such as a liquid, is introduced into the lower portion of the housing 29, thereby causing the piston 24 to travel upwardly Within the housing 29 and impart rotational movement to the shaft 21 in one direction. It will be manifest that downward movement of the piston 24 causes rotational movement of the shaft 21 in the opposite direction. Such downward movement of the piston 24 is effected by the coil spring 30.

Integral with the stub shaft 20 and disposed a short distance below the yoke 18 is an annular collar 31 directly beneath which is another collar 32 of smaller diameter. The annular collars 31 and 32 are held between the cupped end plate 33 and a curved metallic plate 34 which acts as abearing element and is backed by the end plate 33. The metallic end plate 33 serves to close the upper end of the elongate housing 29 and is securely positioned by fitting into the groove formed by crimping the upper end of the metallic housing 29 over the end plate 33. The upper annular collar 31 rides between a packing 36, which also snugly embraces the stub shaft 20 and contacts the end plate 33, and a lower packing ring 37, which embraces the lower annular collar 32 and contacts the metallic plate 34. It will be apparent that the shouldered portion of the collar 31 cooperating with the metallic end plate 33 and plate 34 provides a thrust bearing for the shaft 20 and serves to retain the shaft in the desired position.

The lower portion of the casing 29 extends downwardly below the lower end of the shaft 21, and mounted therein is an electromagnetically controlled valve assembly 38, which includes a solenoid 39 within which is disposed a hollow slide valve member 40 which is normally urged upwardly to its seat by a coil spring 41, a portion of the latter being disposed within a sleeve 42. The arrangement is such that upon energizing the solenoid coil 39, the valve member 40 is moved downwardly, tensioning the spring 41 and enabling the fluid under pressure to flow therethrough to the piston 24. When the solenoid coil 39 is deenergized, the coil spring 41 moves the valve to its seat, thereby trapping the fluid within the casing 29 and retaining the shaft 21 in its adjusted position. Thus upthe solenoid coil is' energized.

but theasource-ofpressure'fluid is inoperative, thereby-enabling the coil spring 30,- wardlyandt effecting a reverse rotation of the shaft 21. Thus; it will be manifestthat the valve 40 serves both as aninlet valve'to admit fluidunder pressure for actue ating-the piston in anupward direction and also as an outletqvalve throughtwhich fluid is .exp elled from the cylinder upon: downward movement of, the piston in response to the expanding force of the coil spring. A still further advantageof. the valve 40 isthat it serves automatically to. relieve. pressure in excess of a predetermined: maxi mum, within the cylinder. Thusin the event. of. expansion ofthe pressure fluid within the cylinder and beneath the piston, for example when the Wing or vane is in clo,sed,position ,.the pressure sobuilt up will unseat the valve 40,thereby relieving the pressure and militating against injury or: damage to the. regulator parts.

The extreme lower end of. the casing 29 isclosed by an end plate 43, forming part of the electromagnetic valve assembly. and which, is held inplace by crimping the end 44 of the casing, aboutthe end plate 43, which at its inner section seats on to ashoulder in the sleeve 42. The sleeve 42 is drilled'for fluid passage and pipe connections 45.

The motor pump unit 46 comprises a suitable pump 46a contained in av housing 46b to which is removably attached a can-like reservoir 46s for pressure fluid, such as oil. An electric motor 46d, drives the pump. In the housing is a passage 462 which leadsvfrom the pressure side of thepump toa lateralpassage 46f to which is connected a.tube.47 leading to the lower end. of the sleeve 42'. Slidable. in the passage 462 is a spring-tensioned valve 46g which in its normal position uncovers a vert1-- cal. passage 46h leadingto the reservoir 460, thus allowing fluid from thecasing 29 to flow to the reservoir when the pump is idle. When the pump operates, it builds up suflicient pressure to force the valve inwardly covering thepassage 46h and enabling pressure fluid to pass from the housing to the tube 47. and. thus to the casing 29. for piston actuation. More detailed description and illustration. ofjthe motor andpumptassembly is contained in my Patent 2,393,406, datedv January 22, 1946.

A,switch 48'is indicated, one lead 49 therefrom extending to, the solenoid coil 39, another, lead 50 extendingtoa relayfor controlling the unit 46, and a third lead 51 extending to a battery rent. The switch may assume the form as shown and described in my Patent 2,344,452, dated March 14, 1944,, and is such that either the solenoid 39- may be energized alone, or the solenoid 39 and the pump unit 46, simultaneously may be. operated, depending, on the manner in-which the-switch 48 is actuated,

toforce the PlSlOll 24 doWn B or source of electrical cur- I Irisv to, be. understood that numerous changes, in details, of construction, arrangement and operation may be.

efiected. without. departing from. the. spirit of the. inven'- tion especially as defined in-the appended claim.

What I claim is:

Regulator means for vehicle parts comprising an elongated casing, vehicle part operating means extending through one end of the casing a piston reciprocable within said casing and serving to actuate said part operating mechanism, resilient means urging the piston towards the opposite endof. the casing, a tube leading from said opposite end of the casing, a pump housing having a passage leading to said, tube, a reservoir for pressure fluid, a pump in said housing for forcing fluid from said reservoir to said passage; thereby to. actuate said. piston, said housing having a second passage communicating with said first passageand= leading to said reservoir, and valve means operable to permit fluid to flow through said first passage to the casing when the pump is operating and topermit fluid to flow fromthe casing'through; said passages to the reservoir whenthe pumpis idle,. and: pressure fluid control meansthoused withinsaid; casing-in termediate said combined pressure fluid inlet and outlet means and the piston, said control means including a valve seat, an opening therein to permitpassage of pressure fluid to and from the pisml' ,v normally closed. value means coacting with, said seat for opening or closing said;

opening and being located on the opposite side of; the

seat from said piston, said valve. means having a surface: exposed through said, seat towards said piston whereby, the resilient means urging said piston towards said op.- posite end of said cylinder applies fluid. pressure tending to unseat said valve means, resilient valve actuating, means normally urging said. valve against. its seatto yieldingly. close the pressure fluid opening therein the force of said resilient valve actuating means operatingon said valve. in opposition to the forceresulting from the resilient meansv urging said piston towards, the opposite end of said cylinder, electromagnetic means serving, when energized, to retract the valve from its seat: to allow pressure fluid to flow through the opening inthe: seat in either direction; and. when released permitting the valve to be closed by said resilient valve actuating means, said resilientvalve. actuating means permitting; the valve to 'open to release fluid from the space between said piston and. said seat, when thepressureoffthefluid' therein is in excess ofa predetermined maximum.

References Cited in the file of'this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS 1,640,324 Hibbard Aug. .23, 1,927 r 2,145,533 Starr Jan 31, 1939 2,338,965 Parsons ,Jlan.,11,. 194.4.- 2,463,364 Dustin Mar. 1,1949, 2,468,943. Parsons May 31, 19,49 FOREIGN. PATENTS. 620,332 Germany Oct..19,, 1935 v 

